Understanding the Jewish Tallit: History and Significance
THE HISTORY OF THE JEWISH TALLIT (PRAYER SHAWL)
The Torah instructs Jews to attach “fringes to the corners of their garments” (Numbers 15:38). The Jewish tallit, or prayer shawl, is a white rectangular garment worn by devout Jews during morning services on weekdays, the Sabbath, and festivals. Typically made from lamb’s wool, cotton, or silk, a tallit never combines wool and linen, as this mixture is prohibited in the Torah (Leviticus 19:19). Each tallit features special knotted fringes, known as arba kanfot, on its four corners. These fringes, called tzitzit, are tied in a particular way, with each knot holding specific significance.
For years, the stripes on the tallit were black because the source of the blue dye for the thread was unknown. Research later revealed that the blue dye came from the shell of a Mediterranean mussel, the Helix ianthina, which produced a shade known as cerulean purple—a mix between blue and purple. A tzitzit traditionally has 613 knots to symbolize the 613 commandments in Jewish law. The fringes, whether knotted or not, serve as a reminder to follow God’s commandments, as mentioned in Numbers 15:39. Tallit sizes can range from thirty-six by fifty-four inches to seventy-two by ninety-six inches.
A band is sown on the top called the Atarah, or the crown, and often is embroidered in silver Hebrew letters, with a special prayer: “Blessed are You, our God, Creator of time and space, who enriches our lives with holiness, commanding us to wrap ourselves in the tallit.”
In more Orthodox communities, men wear the tallit while women do not, as it’s considered a man’s garment, and the Torah prohibits women from wearing men’s clothing (see Deuteronomy 22:5). Observant Jews are often buried in their tallit, but with two changes: the neckband is removed, and one corner fringe is cut off to signify that the deceased is no longer bound by Torah obligations.
The hem of Jesus’ garment would have had fringes on it because He would have keep the commandment of Numbers 15:38-40 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue: And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the Lord, and do them ; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring: That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God.
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